Our History
Written by San Diego Senior Olympics Saturday, 06 June 2009 19:07
The concept of offering sports competition for senior citizens began late in the 1980's within several cities across the United States. The first National Senior Games Championship was held in St. Louis, MO in 1985 and biennially, thereafter.
Sam Cohen, the Physical Education Director of the East County Jewish Community Center, organized the first San Diego Senior Olympics in 1988. That year, there were 143 athletes entered in nine different sports. The year following 295 athletes took part and 452 in the third year, 1990.
In 1991, the San Diego Senior Sports Festival was incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity. A 15-person Board of Directors was elected and Sam Cohen was named Executive Director. Contributing sponsors and participant’s fees funded the program.
San Diego helped organize the California State Senior Games Association in 1991. San Diego was asked to host the first California State Senior Games Championship in San Diego in 1993 and again in 1994. The State Games were highly successful with 1550 athletes competing in 16 sports in 1993 and 1830 competing in 18 sports in 1994.
In 1993 Monthly Senior Partner luncheons were offered as a means of educating and motivating Senior Olympic participants to remain active and fit throughout the year. Most Senior Partner members contributed $100 annually, which became another way to help underwrite and maintain an office on a year-round basis.
In 1998, Healthy Lifestyle luncheons featuring medical and exercise physiologist talks were lounged (taking the place of Senior Partner Luncheons). They were scheduled every other month and are part of our on-going education program.
Other special events have become part of our year-around program including:
The Annual Spring Volleyball Tournament (began in 2002)
The Chuck McMahon Memorial Track Meet (2002-2006)
The Sam Cohen Memorial Golf Tournament (began in 2005)
The Intergenerational Games (began in 2003)
The Annual Recognition Event
Since 2003, we have had our own website: www.sdseniorgames.org.
During the years 1995-1999, successful games were conducted with many of our San Diego Senior athletes going onto compete in the National Senior Games Championships.
San Diego once again hosted the State Senior Games Championship in 2000 with 2413 athletes participating in 24 different sports including new sports: Rugby, Beach Volleyball, Kayaking and Mountain Biking.
San Diego continues to be one of the most successful Senior Games in California.
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